Lancer For Life 2022

Lancer

for

Life

KENNEDY CATHOLIC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

#LANCERLIGHT

2022

You are the

LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

MATTHEW 5:14-16 NEW AMERICAN BIBLE (REVISED EDITION)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN

A Lancer for Life overview of the 2021-22 school year

12

LANCER LIFERS

Q&A with long-time Lancer Faculty & Staff

LANCER FOR LIFE MAGAZINE A publication by Kennedy Catholic High School for alumni and friends Editor Alyson Soma Art Director Cara Blake Features Editor Katie Oltmanns

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18

22

SKY'S THE LIMIT

Keeping up with Kennedy Catholic alumna, Skylar Hubbard ‘15

CAMPUS MINISTRY

Ministering through the pandemic

SHINING A LIGHT ON STUDENT ARTWORK

Student artwork on display

26

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

IE students light the way

32

KEEPING UP WITH LANCER NATION

Student-athletes' highlights and achievements

39

REUNIONS

Celebrating the TWO'S (and a RE-DO)

Photographers Jenny Farrell ‘92 Skylar Hubbard '15 Katie Kolbrick ‘05 Katie Oltmanns Mike Tedesco Archdiocese of Seattle IMAGO Yearbook Kennedy Catholic Staff Pacific Northwest Imagery Washington State LSS Guest Contributors Karen Cascio Patrick Dunn ‘24 Jenny Farrell ‘92 Julian Franco Don Hoffman ‘83 Kaitlyn Johnson Jim Lapan Matthew Mohs Senator Joe Ngyuen ‘02 Fr Jim Northrop Jessica Sparks Danice Warnke Avery Watkins ‘22 Cover Design Cara Blake

www.kennedyhs.org/LFL The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of Kennedy Catholic High School.

D

ear Lancer Family,

As I end my second year as President and Principal, I remain extremely grateful that the Spirit guided me and my family to this community. While we have faced a significant number of challenges over the last two years, we have also found ways to grow and develop as a school community and reclaim what makes our school experience unique. When the year started, I never would have imagined celebrating a full school year of inperson learning. However, we did so thanks to the precautions, respect, and diligence of our community.

Our students were able to experience the entire year, together. In-person learning, a full program of retreats, monthly Mass, complete seasons of athletics, theatre, band, choir performances, clubs and activities, dances, pep assemblies…. we had it all and it was good to be back the way it should be.

We started the year asking our community to “Be A Light” to those around us – in our immediate community and more broadly in our world, in person and on-line - in a spirit of solidarity and love. In the face of darkness and despair that does not seem to pause, each of us has a choice to make. Do we amplify or reflect the

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darkness, or do we offer the flame of hope to those who might be looking to us for aid and comfort?

community, and to care about being a beacon of hope in a world we may not always understand.

Our students chose to offer hope.

Through thousands of hours of community service, money raised, and multiple drives, our students helped those within our community most in need. Through academics, athletics, clubs and activities, and personal successes, students brought their own brightness to the world. Through ministry, retreats, and faith-focused learning, our students felt God’s light shine in them and through them.

Despite the ups and downs of the past two years, our students embodied what it means to lift up those we may not know, support each other as a

I pray that we have helped our students understand the value of being a light in the world to someone in need and assisted them in pushing out darkness around them. Our Lancer Family shone brightly this year and I am proud to be the leader of Kennedy Catholic High School.

In peace,

Matthew Mohs President/Principal

D

ear Lancer Family,

One of the stories in the Bible that has always impressed me is that of Joseph in the Book of Genesis.

difficulties, to declare in his letter to the Romans, “all things work for the good that God has for those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28)

At the reunion, I had a great conversation with one of my classmates about how blessed we felt to return. I can say with St. Paul that everything worked for my good.

Joseph lived an amazingly adventurous life and was subjected to many hardships. He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned, and then positioned as second in command in Egypt at a time of famine. When his brothers came to him in desperate need because of the famine, Joseph, being a righteous and reflective man, did not seek revenge, but saw that everything in his life happened for a reason. He says when he reveals his identity to his brothers: “God, therefore, sent me on ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives in an extraordinary deliverance.”

(Genesis 45:7) For me, this demonstrates how praying about all of the things that happen in our lives can lead us to a place of trust and gratitude. Even the difficult things that might possibly lead us to question the goodness of God can be events that strengthen our faith if we take the time to pray and seek God’s will. This is what led St. Paul, who also suffered

had formed a much different attitude about the seminary. A session of spiritual direction was helpful in addressing this, but I still felt guilty for not having a more positive outlook as I left the seminary.

I recently returned from a 25th anniversary of ordination celebration at the seminary I attended for five years. I remember the first year being the most incredibly blessed. I was in the pre-theology class with just four others. The classes were fascinating, and we always had lively discussions.

At the end of the first year, I didn’t want to return to Washington for the summer because I had such an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, as the years continued, the classes and formation grew more difficult. I remember graduating and realizing I

As we continue to journey in faith, I hope we will continue to see the bigger picture and that when something disappointing happens to us, it can be a great invitation for spiritual growth and to trust that God is still in charge.

No doubt, more challenges are on the horizon, but so is more grace and strength to handle those challenges.

God is faithful!

It has been a blessing to be with you over the past three years. I wish you all abundant blessings and a future filled with hope (c.f. Jeremiah 29:11).

Fr. Jim Northrop Kennedy Catholic Chaplain

Lancer for Life | 3

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN

by KATIE OLTMANNS

W

ith each new school year comes a host of assignments to prepare the way for our students’ success.

We plan curriculum, retreats, map out the year’s assemblies, events, and coordinate athletic schedules, to name a few. Among these tasks is selecting a theme for the year, a word or phrase that best encapsulates our goal for the Lancer community, the direction in which we want to proceed. This year’s theme was, “Be A Light.”

These past few years, we were provided an opportunity to reassess who we are: who we are for our students, for our community, and who we are for and with each other.

Throughout this year’s Lancer for Life, we have selected some of our brightest occasions from the 202122 school year. The noteworthy moments you will read about in this edition were some of the most vibrant, unmistakable sources of light in our community. We are grateful to have had so many.

Kennedy Catholic High School is

4 | Kennedy Catholic High School

deeply rooted in tradition. Some of our happiest days in a given school year include continuing or reinventing traditions that have lived on in these halls, and in every IMAGO, for decades. Our three pillars of foundation are to pursue excellence, encounter Christ, and to lead with love. Perhaps one of the more significant takeaways from this year stemmed from our faith formation pillar - the return of the SEARCH Retreat.

Director of Campus Ministry, Jenny Farrell, illustrates for us in this issue how powerful of a year this truly was in regards to bringing back SEARCH. In a typical school year, a majority of the senior class would have attended SEARCH in some way, whether that be as a retreatant or a leader. In a normal year, there would be a buzz about campus from students who had previously been part of this transformative, spiritual getaway, and would now be creating those experiences for others. It is quite special. However, this year’s juniors and seniors did not inherit that buzz. A light bulb went off...and we decided to reach out to some recent grads to bring life back to this experience.

We reached out, and our calls were swiftly answered by young alumni from the classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021. These individuals took time out of their busy schedules at colleges all over the Pacific Northwest to return to their alma mater and help our students navigate this remarkable weekend retreat. They were able to connect with Farrell over Zoom to prepare their talks and small group sessions remotely before they gathered for SEARCH, all while balancing their collegiate coursework.

Thank you to Torian Thirdgill-Lewis '21, Jacob Castonguay '21, Megan Wiemals '21, Kateri Rinallo '20, Mia Nguyen '21, Emiliano Hernandez '20, Alex Whitman '21 and Penny Nguyen '20 for saying “yes” to the call and for their continued service and support of this community.

They paved the way for our seniors to take over winter and spring SEARCH as our new generation of leaders.

They reignited the spark, and put the buzz back in the school for our juniors, who will be at the helm of this retreat this coming fall.

In a way, these eight selfless leaders set the standard for the rest of the year. They stepped up, led with love, and reminded us that, of course, we can never stop searching.

I couldn't let students miss out on a retreat that impacted such a big part of my life. When I heard they needed help, I immediately knew I wanted in on creating the best experience.

Emiliano Hernandez ‘20

Along with a return to in-person worship at all-school Masses and First Friday Adorations came a restoration of the pomp, pep, and circumstance for which Kennedy Catholic is notorious. Thanks to a devoted Associated Student Body and their fierce Activities Coordinator Caroline Cacabelos, we had a year full of loud, cheerful, at times hilarious, and always entertaining assemblies. We celebrated student and teacher accomplishments, bonded, sang together, and finally, properly welcomed the Class of 2025 with a gauntlet. Every gathering was full of heart. Our Cultural Week assembly was our liveliest event, a happy annual occurrence we Lancer for Life | 5

were thrilled to revive in Goodwin captivating Chinese performance Gym. We enjoyed celebrations of accompanied by live musicians. The Eritrean culture, Cultural Week Assembly is traditional open to parents Hawaiian Darkness cannot performances, and loved ones drive out darkness, Cumbia, the of students - we only light can do ever-popular always your attendance.

Tinikling that. Hate cannot performed by drive out hate, only Led by the our Filipinx love can do that.

Kennedy American Catholic Student Union, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drumline, a K-Pop our students performance, gathered in the poetry and halls to "Clap Out" the 11 athletics music from the Latinx Student teams and fine arts musicians who Union, an Irish river dance, and a

were going to State. The famous Clap Outs returned to the halls for the first time in several years.

The drumline led students down the halls, each carrying handmade signs created by friends and loved ones, all while linking arms with our Cheer Team. It is one of our favorite traditions, and of the many events we reestablished this year.

We turned the Little Theatre lights on once again as Director Jim Lapan and Musical Director Lindsay Brown guided our talented student thespians through our first live productions in two years.

Lapan’s piece on our spring musical, The Sound Of Music, will give you a glimpse into just how dramatic this year’s productions proved to be for Kennedy Catholic.

Our International Education students were able to see their families once again after years of hybrid and remote learning, navigating a pandemic thousands of miles away from home.

Our International Education Directors wrote a detailed spread letting you in on the Extraordinary Experiences of our international students this school year.

6 | Kennedy Catholic High School

We had a roaring good time at the lively KATCH Auction, with a 1920s theme and enough money raised to finish updating the remainder of our classrooms with new desks and chairs.

We also rang in spring by welcoming over 200 eighth graders to our courtyard for our New Family Barbecue. These Lancers-to-be are the Class of 2026 and now, officially the largest class on campus.

Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.

Brené Brown

We searched for, created, and spread light wherever we could. But as with any light switch, once it is on, you illuminate what you may not want to see. You are bound to find what is broken or messy, the challenging parts that have been there all along. This community has endured its fair share of dark seasons. Some elements of our collective parts needed work, and while we were focused on rebuilding long-standing traditions, we were made more aware than ever of the mending, the attention,

the redirection that was required for us to move forward. In order to do that, we needed to get curious about the darkness, to explore, to fumble, and to uncover the light.

The Lancer Family is not solely about who we are and who we have been, but who we want to become.

We lost another core member of our community this year, Derek "Coach" Sparks. Coach Sparks was the leader of our newly-founded committee of Diversity, Equity and Belonging before his tragic passing.

We remember Coach Sparks every day and are grateful to him for helping us begin to navigate this important, lifelong work of equity and equality. We pray he would be proud of how we are choosing to move forward.

“Anthem,” reminds us that there is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.

There is work to be done, unlearning to continue, and in that discomfort, there is light. We hope that in reading this issue of Lancer For Life, you see the light that’s around us and within us here at Kennedy Catholic; that you are encouraged by the determination and steadfast faith of our students, staff and alumni; and that you enjoy this publication. •

With a new committee led by teachers and staff, we are thrilled to welcome our new Director of Equity & Belonging, Tahnayee Clendinen, who will start at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. This work towards equity, while never-ending, is uncomfortable, and will undoubtedly reveal more pieces of this community that need glued back together.

But that is how we heal.

Leonard Cohen’s ballad,

Lancer for Life | 7

A NOTE TO

Congratulations

Class of 2022!

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that uncertainty, and it caused so much anxiety that it became overwhelming. I wish I had known that it was okay to not be okay and fortunately I had a strong peer group that supported me. If you feel like I did, please reach out to a trusted friend or family member because your health and wellbeing is important to all of us.

No matter what comes next, graduating from high school itself is a monumental achievement.

It took an incredible amount of work and each of you are here because you persevered. Your class, more than most, has proven to be resilient, so don’t be in a hurry to grow up. You are right to be excited about what life holds after graduation, but take the time to enjoy your next few weeks!

THE CLASS OF 2022

F

or the last three years, we have all experienced a collective trauma, and especially in this time of your life, it is important to know that you are not alone. You are now part of a long tradition that has deep roots in this community, one that is invested in your success and will be here to support your journey.

SENATOR JOE NGUYEN CLASS OF 2002

When I graduated twenty years ago, I had no idea what my future was going to be. I struggled with

After Kennedy Catholic High School, I had no idea that I would become a state Senator.

Plan your path, but do not pass up unexpected detours and opportunities. Work hard to achieve your goals, but don’t be afraid to fall. Be bold.

Looking back over the last few decades and reflecting on my own experiences, I should have dreamed bigger or been more audacious. You are more powerful than you realize, and with hard work, you will accomplish tremendous things.

We are in a trying time for our country, but I am hopeful for our future because you will be leading us through it.

With great pride, Senator Joe Nguyen ‘02 Lancer for Life | 9

2022

HIGHLIGHTS

HOCO

HOMECOMING WEEK We kicked off fall with our Homecoming Dance. We felt that being able to celebrate this weekend in person again called for a noteworthy venue, so we gathered in the Sky Church at the Museum of Pop Culture at Seattle Center. We were fortunate to have the entire museum to ourselves, and the students were able to explore Disney’s Heroes & Villains exhibit before it left Seattle. It was a night to remember!

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PARENT CLUB EVENTS

STUDENT & PARENT BONDING!

Our Parent Club coordinated special events to connect families in the halls of our school, including the Mother & Daughter event, which was complete with a Succulent Teacup Garden Party, and the Father-Daughter Scavenger Hunt. Attendance was high, and the events were always thoughtful and warm.

We look forward to next year’s events!

LITTLE LANCERS

TRICK-OR-TREAT & EASTER EGG HUNT We welcomed our littlest of Lancers back to the halls of Kennedy Catholic for this year’s Trick-Or-Treat and Easter Egg Hunt. We are thankful we could host on campus once again for spooktacular and egg-scelent games and activities.

TEAM MEMBER OF THE MONTH This year, Kennedy Catholic began a new program to shine a light on the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff.

Each month, students, parents, and faculty nominated those whom they felt went above and beyond, as well as embodied one or more of the Beatitudes so loved by our Patron Pier Giorgio Frassati. One excellent nominee was recognized each month.

This year’s Team Members of the Month were:

OCTOBER

Facilities Team

JANUARY

Caroline Cacabelos

APRIL

Veronica Hellar

Jim McLaughlin, Steve Woodcock, Brent Griffin, Samay Im, James Akot, Hoeun Tun, Jon Attison, Duong Kim

Activities Director

Spanish Teacher

NOVEMBER

FEBRUARY

David Rosser

MAY

Greg Caldwell

MARCH

JUNE

Jenny Farrell

Director of Campus Ministry & Theology Teacher

DECEMBER

Patty Peterson

Department Head St. Teresa Program, English Teacher

Megan Graziose English Teacher

Health & Fitness Department Chair/ AVID Elective Teacher

Katie Burns

Vice Principal of Student Services

Registrar

#TBT

THROWBACK THURSDAYS

KATCH AUCTION

A ROARING GOOD TIME! This year, we met our goal of raising over $400,000. This includes the paddle-raised funds which will allowed us to complete our classroom furniture update. The theme was “Roaring 20s.”

It was the bee’s knees! Thank you to our sponsors, and to all who donated to our school.

JAZZ BAND

MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS The Jazz Band received first place in division II at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival!

This year, we implemented Throwback Thursdays on social media. We selected some noteworthy IMAGO photos and recreated them, or posted them next to similar photos of today to see what has (or has not) changed.

This is a social media tradition that we hope to continue for years to come.

Lancer for Life | 11

LANCER

LIFERS HEIDI MARTIN '78

DINO JOSIE '82

How many years at Kennedy Catholic?

I have worked for Kennedy Catholic for 27 years!

How many years at Kennedy Catholic?

This is my 36th year teaching here at Kennedy Catholic.

What’s the worst fashion choice you made in school?

Getting the “Dorothy Hammil haircut” style. I had very long hair and chose to cut it really short. I missed my long hair!

What’s the worst fashion choice you made in school?

Wearing a leisure suit to a semi formal dance.

My favorite activity when I was in school was….

Mass (we had a lot of priests then) and the assemblies.

I chose to stay at Kennedy Catholic because…

The foundation of faith, respect, support, and love of my Kennedy Catholic Family. I was raised with those values growing up in a big Catholic family. I have always been proud to be a Lancer along with my children.

A highlight of my time working at Kennedy Catholic is…

Watching both of my children graduate. Also, I feel it has been an honor to get to know so many great faculty/ staff, parents, students and grandparents. That has been one of the biggest highlights.

What slang do your students use that you don’t understand?

A lot of the new acronyms.

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My favorite activity when I was in school was….

The SEARCH retreats.

I chose to stay at Kennedy Catholic because…

It’s where my family is, a place where I will always be respected, loved, and the place where I became “me.”

A highlight of my time working at Kennedy Catholic is…

• Getting the opportunity to coach both of my children! Ben '15 in Football, and Shannon '12 in Softball.

• Winning two state titles in Softball ('07 and '08).

• Being inducted into the Kennedy Catholic Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.

• Teaching the children of former students of mine.

What slang do your students use that you don’t understand?

I don’t get the popularity of TikTok.

DON HOFFMAN '83 How many years at Kennedy Catholic?

I've been here for 33 years.

What’s the worst fashion choice you made in school?

Probably everything I wore - fashion was not my gig!

My favorite activity when I was in school was….

Participating in Lancer athletics - Football, Basketball, and Track.

I chose to stay at Kennedy Catholic because…

The community of coaches and teachers was very tight and having the opportunity to be a part of that was something I could not pass up. Everyone was connected to the school and students, and it became ingrained in your life.

A highlight of my time working at Kennedy Catholic is…

Coaching underdog boys and girls basketball teams to playoff wins and state tournaments. The run of playoff wins we had in football are unforgettable. Working with the many quality student athletes and watching them succeed out of high school.

What slang do your athletes use that you don’t understand?

If I don’t understand it, I ask for clarification.

KATIE BURNS '90 How many years at Kennedy Catholic?

I began as a long term sub in 1996, but went to Holy Family for three years and returned in 1999 as an English teacher.

What’s the worst fashion choice you made in school?

I wore stirrup pants - those were the worst!

My favorite activity when I was in school was….

I was on the drill team and I loved the girls that I met. I still see some of those girls today and it is like we were never apart.

I chose to stay at Kennedy Catholic because…

The kids matter. I can help more by being a presence to our students than not being here to be an ally or help them when they need it.

A highlight of my time working at Kennedy Catholic is…

One of the many highlights of my career was the Winter Wishes assembly this year. The students and teachers made a video for me and it was amazing.

What slang do your athletes use that you don’t understand?

There are several slang terms I do not understand “You’re a bot” or “That’s comp”...I don’t get it!

Lancer for Life | 13

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT A KENNEDY GRADUATE LIGHTS UP THE WORLD SKYLAR HUBBARD '15

T

he sky really is the limit for Skylar Hubbard ’15. Chatting

by Zoom from her Atlanta, Georgia home, Skylar is as quick with a laugh as she is to share how much her faith means to her. She’s also not afraid of much.

Dreaming of becoming an undercover cop who busts sex trafficking rings, Skylar grew up in Seattle with her parents, Michelle and Tom, and her brother, McGuyre Hubbard ’13. She followed her brother to Kennedy Catholic High School where she joined Young Life, an organization devoted to introducing adolescents to Christ and helping them grow in

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their faith, during her freshman year. This decision turned out to be a pivotal choice in her life. “[Young Life] really changed a lot for me,” Skyler shares, “and really made my faith what it is today. It is a large part of who I am.”

She continued volunteering throughout college and still volunteers today for Young Life in Atlanta.

Skylar also developed a love for travel in high school when she took her first solo trip to visit family in England. She realized she really enjoyed going into rural communities and meeting people.

Traveling highlighted the fact that people are more or less the same everywhere, and want the same things the world over. Love, she says, is universal.

After graduating from Kennedy Catholic, Skylar first attended Dallas Baptist University before transferring to Washington State University (WSU) to study

fashion. Her degree in Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles ties strongly into her passion for ethics and humanitarianism in manufacturing. Although she ended up graduating from WSU, an encounter at Dallas Baptist University shaped her postgraduation plans. A friend had participated in the World Race, and Skylar was certain that is what she wanted to do.

The World Race is a mission trip where participants learn to grow with God as they serve underprivileged communities worldwide. Each country chosen is based on a partnership and a need in a local community.

Skylar’s mission was to visit eleven countries in eleven months – one month per country. She first traveled to Africa and stayed in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. Then her team traveled to Asia spending time in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.

During her first eight months she slept in anything and everything from a local’s home to a tent. She taught English, worked with kids, encouraged female empowerment, and preached, in her words, “a lot.”

Mainly, she says, she simply helped

wherever she could for the time she was there.

Skylar speaks of her time in Asia with excitement – she would move there - expandanding on her time preaching in a Vietnamese mountain village bordering on Laos, where Christianity is illegal.

Skylar recalls teaching English and preaching to teens in an underground Chapel and spending time at the one coffee shop in the village with a smile. Laos was challenging–she got into some sticky situations with the local government because of her beliefs.

When asked if she was scared, she smiles and says that she knew what she was signing up for.

I knew that God had called me there, so I knew I had the protection of the Holy Spirit,” she says. “Am I willing to die for what I believe in? My answer was yes.” Skylar makes it clear that she does not believe in living in fear.

By the grace of God, Skylar made it out of Laos to Cambodia where she tried to find sweatshops and worked in safe houses with the women and children who were recovering from their time in what she calls “labor camps.” In Phnom Penh, she met a missionary “angel” from Australia who had been teaching the children in the slums for the past nine years. Skylar found joy in helping the missionary teach and is still in touch with her and the kids.

In Thailand, Skylar lived on the border of Burma, where the world’s longest civil war was raging at the time.

Her team worked in a vocational school where they assisted in teaching Burmese teen refugees life skills, like beauty care, coffee making, self-defense skills, baking, and more.

Then, she was sent home. COVID-19 hit and everything shut down, ending her eleven-month trip three months early. She never made it to South America. She did make it home to Washington, though. Lockdown was good for her, giving her time to to reconcile her life-altering journey and the reality that she had changed, with the realization that her “normal” life had not. She enjoyed her time, especially with her family, but the travel bug was still there and after lockdown was over, Skylar moved to Atlanta, where she lives now.

Skylar now works for a consulting firm where she teaches, trains, and, of course, travels. She did not know how much she loved teaching but now she knows “it fulfills a

need in my soul, for sure.” She still volunteers to teach English to the international community in Atlanta and helps to build skills and share the Gospel.

There are plans for the future that include returning to visit her “angel” in Cambodia, going back to travel in China, owning a house that has an open door policy to all visitors, and, someday, fostering and adopting children.

She muses that there are seasons in life which she calls wings and roots. She says she had a huge wing time, so, for now, it is root time.

Whatever the future may hold, it is certain Skylar’s faith and fearlessness will see her through. •

Lancer for Life | 15

LA’A KEA SACRED LIGHT

The picture I painted in my head of playing there only became clearer.

My family and I watched every game together when they played to the point where UCB felt like a newfound family, like home. I was going to commit to UCB, and I was not only confident in my next chapter of life, but eager and

by AVERY WATKINS '22

M

y name is Avery Watkins, a recent graduate of Kennedy Catholic High School. I was president of both ASB and the Black Student Union. Although I don’t have it all figured out, I wanted to share with you how I found light while staring into the face of darkness.

This year, I made the biggest decision of my life - where to spend the next four years as a college athlete. I was recruited by top schools, ranging from the University of Georgia to Princeton, to the University of California - San Diego. Ever since I was 13, I have received tons of recruitment mail.

Having the same conversations with different coaches was constant, and the cloud over my head regarding my decision weighed heavy as the deadline to decide drew nearer.

The recruitment process is rigorous and rewarding. But it was different

with the University of Colorado - Boulder (UCB). It was natural, authentic, and easy-going. They gave me my first full-ride scholarship offer.

My family and I became close with the coaching staff - I even formed a deep bond with the assistant coach.

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that’s hard! I held hope that everything would work out and gave thanks for the graces I had already been gifted.

The next few months were uncertain, until the University of Hawai’i swooped in and offered me a scholarship. I absolutely love what they stand for. The team is lively, and the location is unbeatable. It was quite literally a breath of fresh air.

Blessings can come in disguise, but it’s hard to decipher a blessing when you’re afraid.

I have found that practicing gratitude can spark the light at the end of the tunnel. My light this past year has been this shift in opportunity. Rejection is simply redirection. I am beyond thankful that my faith in the unknown was recognized, and in turn, brought forth a new beginning. excited. My parents and I could not have been more certain of my future.

Then, it all came to a screeching halt. My offer from the University of Colorado had been dropped. At this point, I had faded my connections with other schools because I was so sure I was going to UCB. I was left with a pit in my stomach, a wrench in my heart, and no backup plan. I was absolutely devastated. This was the cherry on top of an already difficult year.

I began to dig into every possibility as to why this was happening, what my years of hard work were even for, what I should have done differently. But my most taxing thought was, what’s next? I put every ounce of my faith in God. I could accept that Colorado was not meant for me, but I was blindly trusting in something completely unknown, and

I still don’t know exactly why Colorado wasn’t meant for me, but I am completely confident Hawai’i is where I’m supposed to be. Staying the course, trusting in God’s plan, and remaining grateful for the blessings we have is what paints our rainbow at the end of a storm. I like to think every color in the rainbow is a trial or tribulation that was once overcome. And then, a masterpiece is formed. We can rarely control the darkness, but we can control how we react when we are in it.

Do you sit in the dark and wait for the light to come back on? Or do you get a flashlight or a candle?

Over the past two years, we have all experienced some great loss, confusion, and despair, but I encourage you to find what blessings emerged from your chaos. How have you risen amongst your ashes? Where was your rainbow? Be the light you are searching for, Lancers! •

ALUMNI & FACULTY NOTES ALUMNI

FACULTY

Steven Armstrong ‘95 was promoted to Amazon Vice President of Systems Analysists

Quinton Beedle completed his graduate program earning his Master of Arts in Teaching, Science and was accepted into the Fred Hutch Science Education Partnership program

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? SUCCESSES

James McGrath ‘05 returned to compete on American Ninja Warrior where he proposed to his girlfriend, fellow competitor, Allyssa Beird Hannah Rasmussen ‘19 is interning at Giuliano Ricchi Jewelry in Florence, Italy Frank Schuster ‘90 was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle by Pope Francis

Coach Sheldon Cross was named West Offensive Coordinator for the 2022 All-American Bowl in San Antonio, TX Megan Graziose, Megan McNulty and Kelly Sanford all completed their PACE Master’s Degree Program Dr. Kristin Kuzmanich earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University in May Jim Lapan entered into a licensing agreement with Drama Notebook for TJ’s Elephant

WELCOME LITTLE ONE

Alvin Lui and his wife, Hannah, welcomed daughter Collette Ji-Quan in February

WEDDINGS

Aleah Ruth ‘14 and Kyle Hinton ‘14 were married in October

WEDDINGS

Marshall Davidson and Hannah Hunthausen were married in September Nicole Roed and Ryan Kemp were married in September

PASSINGS

Dick Ellis was the husband of long-time Kennedy Catholic staff member Linda Ellis

PASSINGS

Brenno DeFao ‘80 was a Kennedy Catholic football legend and beloved University of Washington Husky football running back

Jerry Seitz was a beloved former Kennedy Catholic faculty member Derek “Coach” Sparks was the Dean of Students, Director of Equity & Belonging, coach, mentor, and former Washington State University running back

EXECUTIVE BOARD WELCOME TO OUR NEW 2022-2023 BOARD MEMBERS Sandra Barton Smith Rommel Buenafe Brian Callanan Peggy Cunninghman Anna Horton Jonelle Matsushima Daniel Merlino Bryce Rassilyer

Lancer for Life | 17

CAMPUS MINISTRY PANDEMIC MINISTRY

L

ast year we reinvented our retreat, service, and Mass protocols to involve all the latest technology in order to reach our students at home.

These efforts were well worth their weight in gold as we went to in-person ministry with plenty of restrictions for 2021-2022.

This year’s challenge was to bring back traditions that have been passed on peer to peer for decades while keeping everyone safe. To press pause on the robust Lancer ministry offerings caused us to rethink how we serve and how to rebuild our strong leadership program. Many of the local Catholic schools pulled back their programming. We did not. With our Lancer spirit, much preparation, and adhering to local COVID-19 restrictions, our Campus Ministry offered retreats at all class levels, logged countless hours of service for the ISLE program and returned to inperson Masses and Adoration.

18 | Kennedy Catholic High School

by JENNY FARRELL

Bringing SEARCH Back

In a normal school year, roughly half the senior class would have attended a SEARCH retreat already. This school year, not one student had the chance to attend. In order to give SEARCH back to Kennedy Catholic High School, we recruited eight young alumni to help model what it means to be a Lancer leader grounded in their love for Jesus. Fall SEARCH was attended by an overwhelming 100 seniors from the class of 2022! The Lancer alumni were a phenomenal group who literally gifted SEARCH back to Kennedy Catholic. Winter and Spring SEARCH retreats had over 80 students apply to be leaders (we can only take 20) and each retreat maxed out at 100 participants.

We are so grateful to our community for stepping up and creating space for students to encounter themselves, others, and God in profound and faith-filled ways.

Frosh Retreat 2022

Our theme was “Seize Your Moment” as inspired by Disney's Coco, and that’s exactly what we did. Over the course

of two days, our student leaders guided the Class of 2025 in small group reflections, as well as large group activities, including a lip-sync battle and a series of minute-to-win-it style games. Our students grew in faith as they embarked on their first spiritual experience together as a class.

Creative Service Projects & Sophomore Solidarity Retreat

Due to the pandemic restrictions, we could not do direct service with our local partner agencies, so we shifted our focus to Care for God’s Creation and headed out to sunny Camp Don Bosco. Our sophomores reflected on their role on Earth and helped eradicate invasive species from this beloved CYO camp. We were also able to bring back Lancer Days of Service with Lincoln Park and Volunteer Park to provide support in invasive species

removal and native plant plantings.

Many thanks to our outgoing service coordinator, Marshall Davidson, for making these events happen safely for students.

In-Person Mass and Adoration

With our liturgist, Lindsay Brown, we were able to offer all school Masses in the Goodwin Gymnasium. To celebrate the Eucharist together and invite our freshmen and sophomores into these meaningful liturgies grounded the entire community in our faith, and lifted our Catholic identity to the center during difficult days of the pandemic. Lastly, our first Friday all-day Adoration in the Chapel occurred because of our fantastic parent community. One parent was so moved by this experience of praying with students that she wrote, “I felt so blessed today and filled with God’s peace and joy. To see so many students come in for prayer not just as a class but individually was a reminder of the goodness of God, all the time.”

We look forward to 2022-2023 to continue to build our retreat, service, and prayer programming!

St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Outreach

Christmas is a central time for the St. Vincent de Paul Club at Kennedy Catholic High School as the students sponsor families, and faculty collect gifts for kids in the King County Juvenile Detention Center.

After delivering the gifts for Christmas Day, the kids sent letters to Kennedy Catholic, thanking us for the gifts.

Letters from kids in the King County Juvenile Detention Center:

Christmas, of course, is hard without family to share it with, but you brought Christmas to us.

For some strangers that don’t know me or the circumstances that got me here, to donate such nice gifts out of the goodness of [their] hearts really means alot to me. To be honest, I thought I wouldn’t have a Christmas this year to look forward to.

It gave me faith that someone out there still sees us as the kids we are.

ARCHBISHOP SCHUSTER ORDINATION REFLECTION

by PATRICK DUNN ‘24 I had the unique opportunity to go to Fr. Frank Schuster’s episcopal ordination at St. James Cathedral.

Seven Kennedy Catholic High School students attended the ordination, and we had the special role of representing the Lancer Family as ushers. Bishop Schuster is a Kennedy Catholic graduate (Class of 1990) and was drum major in the Lancer Marching Band. As a member of the band and a Catholic, this ceremony was cool to see in person.

St. James Cathedral is such a beautiful place. The ornate architecture, organs, and choir all make it a wonderful atmosphere for worship. It was remarkable. I particularly enjoyed Bishop Schuster’s remarks at the end of the ceremony. His humility stuck with me when he stated, “My ordination today as a bishop is not a trophy.”

I am so glad my fellow Lancers were invited to represent our school at this ordination for an alum who has served for years as a great priest in our archdiocese.

Lancer for Life | 19

WELCOMING

TAHNAYEE CLENDINEN Director of Equity and Belonging

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ahnayee Clendinen comes to us from Graham Kapowsin High School where she was not only an English teacher, but also the Black Student Union Coordinator and the Journalism Advisor. Previously, she held Mentor and Local Advocate positions with Graduation Alliance. She is a University of Washington alumna with her Masters in Higher Education from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Tahnayee’s extensive background in retention of BIPOC populations in educational settings, her time mentoring teens and young adults of all ages and backgrounds as well as her fearless approach to difficult conversations are among a few of the reasons we are eager to begin this journey with Tahnayee.

PEACE & JUSTICE CLUB FUNDING FOR UKRAINE Our Peace & Justice club organized a fundraiser to provide assistance to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. They designed and created buttons to sell around the halls with proceeds split between Save The Children Ukraine and CARE. Our students raised a total of $266.76 for these organizations. They also organized a Blue & Yellow Day, where the entire student population dressed in support of Ukraine. We are immensely proud of their proactivity and philanthropy and we pray for peace in Ukraine.

20 | Kennedy Catholic High School

A NOTE FROM

JULIAN FRANCO

Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management

G

reetings from a new (but potentially familiar) face here at Kennedy Catholic High School! I had the pleasure of joining our school community this past spring. During my brief time here, I have witnessed a tremendous sense of community, commitment to faith formation, and celebration of lived experiences that all contribute to the wonderful, diverse makeup of this school. It’s an honor to join the Lancer Family.

I loved my experience receiving a Catholic education, first encountering its transformative qualities in college at Gonzaga University – Go Zags! As a firstgeneration college graduate, I found my pathway to graduation filled with more obstacles than some of my peers, who admittedly also had obstacles of their own.

After graduating, I wanted to pursue a career where I could support and empower students amidst transitions – academically,

socially, and spiritually. This led me to a career in college admissions at two different universities: Pacific Lutheran University and Seattle University.

and profession into one – working with youth, sharing my Catholic faith, advocating for a holistic education, and helping students in their transition to high school.

When I was not working on a college campus, you would often find me at my home parish in Federal Way. I spend a lot of my personal time working with youth programs at St. Vincent de Paul, specifically with middle school ministries, confirmation, and mission treks. These programs were where I first encountered, and continued to come across, students attending Kennedy Catholic. It was only a matter of time before I would join the community myself.

I want to extend gratitude to the faculty, staff, and students at Kennedy Catholic who welcomed me near the end of their school year with open arms. My short time working alongside the parents, supporters, and incoming students has assured me of my decision to enter this new chapter and community.

Developing youth and sharing my faith are vital to my sense of self. When I stumbled upon the opportunity to join our school’s community, I felt a vocational nudge that I could not ignore. I’m now able to combine my passions

While you may have already graduated from Kennedy Catholic, we all continue to encounter transitions in our lives. I pray you find excitement amongst anxieties, boldness amongst fears, and confidence walking into the future, just like our Class of 2026 will as they enter the front doors of our school in September. • Lancer for Life | 21

SHINING A LIGHT ON

Student Artwork

22 | Kennedy Catholic High School

Artists from Left to Right

Iris Ashworth '22 Alina A. '24 Katherine H. '24 Noa D. '24 Kailauni C-C. '23 Teresa B. '25

Lancer for Life | 23

THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON Brigitta’s Existential Nightmare

I

n college, I didn’t know what a mantra was, but I had one.

Whenever things went seriously off the rails, be it in the rehearsal room or the scene shop, I would involuntarily blurt out, “Boy, do I love theatre!” It got to be a running joke among friends, but it was also a means of self-correction. I always tried to remember that the worst day spent working in the theatre was a pretty good day. I believe that still.

Fast forward to March 15, 2022.

It was the second day of tech for The Sound of Music at the Highline PAC. Two days until opening. We were trying to finally run the show without stopping. We’d almost made it to the end of Act I when it happened: Brigitta’s existential nightmare.

Brigitta is probably the brightest and most precocious of the von Trapp children. She speaks her mind and always tells the truth.

In this scene, she watches people coming and going for a bit before 24 | Kennedy Catholic High School

by JIM LAPAN

telling Maria in no uncertain terms that her face is red, and that she is obviously in love with the Captain.

Anyway, about those people coming and going? A couple of those entrances never happened that night due to struggles with costume changes, leaving Brigitta all alone out there. The actress, a very capable senior acting in her first show with us, managed to stay in character and improvise some lines to say. But this was a looooooong time to be alone onstage. One minute alone onstage with nothing to do can feel like an hour.

It’s among the worst nightmares an actor can have. She stuck it out and eventually the scene got back on track.

As the director watching the run-through from the audience, I had an unexpected reaction to this moment. Another year, another show, I might have panicked or lost my cool over this. Not this year. Somehow the whole chaotic, frightening situation felt good to me. It felt like real theatre.

We were eleven days from opening James and the Giant Peach in March of 2020 when everyone was sent home. It was surreal. How could the show not go on?

During the 2020-21 school year, we explored other ways to give students a “theatre experience.” We did a radio play, a film adaptation, and a live stream on Zoom. Each project was successful in its way but make no mistake, they were not the real McCoy. This past fall, we managed to fully stage Clue in the Little Theatre, complete with character, color-coated KN95 masks. It was a big step forward.

As we began rehearsing The Sound of Music in January, Omicron was peaking. Here we go again, I thought. For the first month we were confined to 90-minute rehearsal blocks with groups of twelve students or less. Scenes remained unstaged until very late in the process. We went into tech on a wing and a prayer.

Opening night was not flawless, but it was magical. Afterward everyone appeared elevated, perhaps because the show had gone well but more likely because it had happened at all. We survived Brigitta’s existential nightmare and performed a musical. Boy, do I love theatre! •

KENNEDY CATHOLIC TEAM'S

DE-LIGHT-FUL PALS!

Lancer for Life | 25

Kai W. from Japan (left) and Leo K. from Japan (Right)

PEER MENTORS LIGHT THE WAY

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INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

he Peer Mentor program provides support for new International Education (IE) students in their transition to high school at Kennedy Catholic. Peer

mentors are usually juniors and seniors who have shown an interest in and capacity for helping others.

All peer mentors are matched with student mentees based on skills and interests.

The program addresses the major issues of transition and adjustment for our international students to American high school and the “tasks” of adolescence. In addition, the support efforts focus on academic requirements, expectations and the realities of 26 | Kennedy Catholic High School

joining a high school program.

Time management, stress management and setting priorities are also addressed.

Discussions also focus on support and resources such as academic assistance from teachers, and accessing socialemotional support.

Each peer mentor has student mentees to whom they are assigned. Some peer mentors provide tutoring, others interact around shared interests, sports, activities and organized field trips.

Students meet four afternoons each week to work on improving their English skills.

Kosei A. from Japan, is taking Integrated English and said, the most helpful activities are the writing exercises.

It’s very helpful to improve my English!

I am thankful to Leo and Kai. Ho Ip (Louis) Y. from Hong Kong, is an Integrated English student and said that working on writing and reading newspaper stories has been very helpful.

The tutors explain things clearly. It makes me improve my writing and pronunciation.

Visit our website to read more about Peer Mentors Kai W. and Leo K. •

LIGHT ON THEIR FEET

S

Hitomi T. from Japan Varsity Girls Tennis

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ATHLETE AMBASSADORS

ports help create a better study abroad experience for international students and raises them to be future leaders.

Playing sports significantly enhances our international students’ experience while they attend Kennedy Catholic High School in the United States.

Not only does physical activity improve their physical health, but it releases endorphins that boost their mood and reduce stress.

Plus, socializing with friends and coaches, and returning to a more structured routine after online learning last year has been great for mental health.

Many international students compete in high school athletics to learn more about American culture and enjoy friendly competition.

Track and Cross Country are two of

the most popular sports among our international students. Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, and Baseball also top the list.

themselves as they study abroad.

This is especially important for young high school students who are not used to living away from home.

American culture is huge on sports. Most American students talk about their favorite sports and teams, even if they are not athletes.

Playing and understanding sports helps international students engage better in day-to-day conversations with their American friends and teachers, even creating a special bond with their peers.

Participating in a sports team can bring a sense of belonging for international students. Through training and competing with their teammates, international students build up a stronger community and support system surrounding

High school student athletes are highly favored by top U.S. university admissions officers.

As an extremely sports-focused country, top American universities value candidates who show a strong athletic record in their application.

The Washington Post released a report of enrollment data from Lancer for Life | 27

top U.S. universities showing that Varsity Athletes accounted for up to 19% of students successfully enrolled in Princeton University, 16% for Harvard University and 15% for Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

and community.

They are gaining great life experiences that help them to develop as better people, not simply better athletes.

Our school administrators considered the risks involved during the pandemic and made sure the chance of being exposed to and spreading the virus was kept to a minimum this school year. The IE Office staff encourages all our students to join activities, clubs, and sports when we welcome them to school each semester, but it’s our ambassadors who are great at encouraging their new friends and are best able to influence them.

Their passion and participation make them great role models and it’s natural for them to promote the benefits for our international students.

They do not view their responsibilities as a burden, but instead see this as a great learning opportunity that can be used for future life success. Joining sports and clubs gives them the challenge of identifying and solving problems, collaborating with team members, overcoming adversity, and instilling pride in the school 28 | Kennedy Catholic High School

Her goal is to improve the lives of athletes and support those with mental illness. She would like to see a safe place for athletes to recover from injury and ultimately decrease total sports injuries.

Her own personal sports injury that happened her freshman year, when she fell ice skating, played a major role in Mana deciding her future study. She was an athlete at Kennedy Catholic on the Cross Country team and said her Psychology and Performance of Sport class and attending SEARCH were very impactful.

These [experiences] have helped me to focus on the positive and not give up.

Last summer, Mana went home to complete her ISLE volunteer service project with KNGs, a health and human service organization in Japan. She learned about Sustainable Development Goals and focused on advocacy for good health and well-being for residents of Kamakura, Japan.

Visit our website to read more about Mana.

MANA O.

Student Athlete Mana O. from Japan, a recent graduate from the Class of 2022, participated in many activities with IE. She joined almost every event and enjoyed the community building trips.

She plans to study Kinesiology at Michigan State University this fall.

TANYA L.

Tanya L. from Taiwan (ROC), attended Kennedy Catholic for four full years and took a strong leadership role in IE events, activities, and New Student Orientation. She served as an IE marketing assistant, was co-founder and also co-leader of the “Dance Yourself Club.”

Tanya participated in many school activities including Cheer, Choir, Swimming, Tennis, Theatre, and the Cultural Assembly this year. She was also a teacher’s assistant for the IE support class.

Visit our website to read more about Tanya. •

HOST A STUDENT! HOMESTAY OPPORTUNITY

Kennedy Catholic families have the opportunity to join the Lancer Global Family by hosting an international student and learning how one year can make a lifetime of difference.

To learn more, visit our website.

Lancer for Life | 29

POETRY READINGS

ORIGINAL STUDENT WORK

I AM

by CRISTIAN H. ‘24

MY DREAM ABOUT THE SEA

by YSABELLA PEREZ ‘22

I am from huevos con jamon, To the fabuloso stench on the hardwood floors, I from watching Despierta America at 7am on school days, To playing Beyblades with my mother at 9pm on weekends

I dreamed of seas and a woman, alone, accompanied by the solitude of dripping stars, faded outlines of suns etched into the sky.

I am from the pear tree that never bloomed, To kicking balls over the fence to my neighbor’s garden, I am from tina de frijole, To “Ponte las pillas mi hijo" I am from early Saturday mornings to clean, To mowing the lawn every week, I am from the pan dulce, To valentina on all my foods, I am from a town of dirt and pride, A town full of burros y chivas, I am from the town that worked day n night, A town full of fight I am from Aztec warrior blood, Warriors full of passion and hope, Yo soy del la bandera con la Aguila y serpente que representa el orgullo del los Mexicanos Yo soy Mexicano 30 | Kennedy Catholic High School

Her dress was a curtainbut I’m certain the pouring water slipped into the cracks of the columns that held up the world, causing her to become a deity.

Her steps rippled as she walked towards me. I felt fear.

I turned and walked away except there were gods in gray who stretched their gleaming arms and offered me a chariot to travel the longitude lines that made up this realm.

I could no longer see deep blues, so I took their hand and sought out my awakening.

WHERE I’M FROM

by ELISHA E. ‘24

TO DUST YOU WILL RETURN

by HANNAH RAMIREZ ‘22

I am from hand-me-down cars, With windows down and speakers screaming our songs, From hands sticking out windows, And wind watching as we race by.

Sing me a song so I forget our past, Marigold gardens, hopes, and desires, You look for answers you’ll never find, I look for questions to pass the time.

I am from chosen families, Where family is made and not given.

I’m from platonic soulmates, From sentences punctuated by snickers and snorts, And sleepovers spent laughing until 4am.

And yet, where I’m from, it’s “family first,” It’s “respect your elders; they raised you,” I’m from “make our sacrifices worth it.”

So, “never forget that dreaming is free.”

But I am also from lolas brushing my hair, From titas pinching chubby cheeks, From “Oh, you’re so big now!”

And “you look just like your mom.”

Where I’m from, it’s karaoke nights, Where neighbors call to file noise complaints, And nights are spent making forever memories.

I am a mosaic of everything I am from, Every experience and every person I’ve encountered.

I am from the heart of a small Filipina woman, With unwavering hope, That the world may have a place, For her, her family, and her dreams.

Marigold gardens, hopes, and desires, In my head or nature growing, I look for questions to pass the time, Leave me now, you’re no longer mine.

Sing me a song so I forget our past, One last coin weighs in my pocket, Leave me now, you’re no longer mine, Tossed into the well for someone to find.

One last coin weighs in my pocket, No more money for love or joy, Tossed into the well for someone to find, And at the bottom, lie a broken spine.

No more money for love or joy, From dust we are born and so we will return, And at the bottom, lie a broken spine, You and the coin that can no longer shine.

From dust we are born and so we will return, I look for questions to pass the time, And at the bottom, lie a broken spine, Sing me a song so I forget our past.

Children's Books WHERE THE BRIGHT THINGS ARE

by Ysabella Perez '22

His imagination!

READ HERE >>

MAGICAL MIND

by Prince Ovbiebo '22 READ HERE >> Lancer for Life | 31

KEEPING UP WI

LANCER

by DON HOFFMAN

A

s we continue to get back to the normalcy of Lancer Athletics, minus the masking requirements and COVID-19 testing, our athletes continue to impress in their commitment to represent all the traditions of the Kennedy Catholic High School Athletic Department.

With drive and determination, our teams have competed admirably in the past year knowing that not all accomplishments are measured in the win and loss columns, but in the growth and character development athletics provides.

32 | Kennedy Catholic High School

The values of character, sportsmanship and accountability are at the forefront of our team development. As legacy Lancers matriculate through the school, we see more and more parents in the stands who also showed the same commitment when they were students at Kennedy Catholic.

Throughout the year we have many successes to recognize. A force on the court, our Girls Volleyball team again scrapped their way to a state tournament appearance. Coach Quitiquit has developed a program in which all alums would be proud.

Her girls represent the class and grit of the many championship volleyball teams of the past and the former Lancer coaches who helped lay the foundation.

The Lancer Football team added another NPSL League Championship that will forever be recognized on the banner in the gym. Many alums remember the

traditions of Lancer Football and the championships they were a part of while walking the halls of our school. Kennedy Catholic Football games continue to be a reuniting place for Lancers past and present to cheer on our school. The Lancer community lost Coach Merrill in May of 2021 but his legacy lives on.

Coach Bourgette took the reins and secured many championships, and now Coach Cross is adding to the school’s totals. We look forward to another season and reuniting with former Lancers!

A relatively newer sport to Our Lancer Nation is both Boys and Girls Water Polo. The girls finished third in state!

loser-out games to qualify for the state tournament.

ITH

NATION

Our Boys and Girls Basketball programs continue to be competitive in the tough NPSL and have solid cores of young talent from which to build.

honor. Not to be outdone, the Girl’s Cross-Country team carded a 3.8 average in the fall.

On the soccer pitch this spring the boys lingered near the top of the standings and were a threat to win the league title. They spread the

They lost a heartbreaker to the eventual state champion 5-4, then went on to win three consecutive games for the third place finish.

The boys represented Kennedy Catholic in an admirable fashion, finishing second in our district and qualifying for the state tournament.

The Boys and Girls Swim teams have consistently sent swimmers to state and this year has proven no different. The highlight was when senior Christian Louie broke the school record in the 100 meter breaststroke and was crowned state champion in that event, and is in consideration for All-American.

Kennedy Catholic wrestling had a season to remember as they sent a record number of athletes to the WIAA state tournament. We had three wrestlers reach the finals and crowned a state champion in Mateo de la Peña at the 160 weight class. Mateo went on to a national event in Virginia where he placed fifth and received high school AllAmerican honors.

The Girls Soccer team led by a solid core of seniors finished league play with a 9-2-1 record. They advanced through the West Central District tournament, winning some

Our Boys and Girls Golf teams met qualification standards for the district tournament by finishing fourth and second respectively in league play. Rocky Etzkorn and Anika S. advanced to the state tournament and represented Kennedy Catholic well.

This spring the Boys Baseball team overcame a slow start and went to playoffs. Faccone Field remains the home of quality baseball.

The Girls Bowling team had over 30 participants and, once again, had the highest winter sport team GPA of 3.722. This is their third consecutive year of achieving that

field and played an exciting brand of soccer and we look forward to their next season.

Track and Field continues to draw large numbers of student athletes as one of our largest sports teams.

We are proud of all that our student athletes have accomplished this year, both athletic, academic and otherwise.

Thank you for your continued support of Our Lancer Nation, and we will see you in the fall! • Be sure to follow @LancerNation on Instagram and Facebook!

Lancer for Life | 33

RETURN TO

CLAPOUTS ATHLETICS FALL

Boys Water Polo Girls Soccer Girls Volleyball Girls Swim & Dive

WINTER

Gymnastics Boys Swim & Dive Boys Wrestling

SPRING

Girls Water Polo Golf Track & Field

FINE ARTS BAND

Sunny Yang ‘22 | French Horn at State Solo/Ensemble

CHOIR

Grace Clark ‘22 | Soprano at State RJ L. ‘23 | Tenor at State Phu N. ‘23 | Bass at State

ORCHESTRA

Chase B. '24 | All-State Orchestra Rae W. '24 | All-State Orchestra

34 | Kennedy Catholic High School

ATHLETIC SPOTLIGHT COACH CROSS

Head Football Coach, Sheldon Cross, was the West Offensive Coordinator for the 2022 All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas on January 8, 2022. Thanks, Coach, for representing the Lancers!

AVERY WATKINS '22

Recent graduate, Avery Watkins, was recognized as SBLive’s 2021-22 Washington Class 4A Senior Athlete of the Year! Avery was a four-year starter in Basketball, Volleyball, and Softball, earning 12 letters. She was an all-4A NPSL performer eight times, including four consecutive first-team nods in basketball. She is a great example of what it means to be a Lancer Student-Athlete. Congrats, Avery!

NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING DAYS Iris Ashworth '22 Pacific Lutheran University - Volleyball Jamare' Childs '22 Eastern Arizona College - Basketball Olivia Erwin '22 California State University, San Marcos - Soccer Keoni Gavino '22 George Fox University - Soccer Shelby Lawson '22 St. Martin's University - Fastpitch Lexi Lerwick '22 Washington State University - Soccer Christian Louie '22 Wyoming State University - Swim

Isaiah Malloe '22 University of Hawai'i, Manōa - Football Tehui 'TJ' Paaga '22 Rocky Mountain College - Football Mateo de la Pena '22 California Baptist University - Wrestling Taylor Pilgrim '22 University of Dubuque - Football Noah Rushing '22 Snow College - Football Avery Watkins '22 University of Hawai'i, Manōa - Basketball Kiersten Weiler '22 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo - Swim Lancer for Life | 35

HisLight Remains DEREK “COACH” SPARKS 1975-2021

I

n November, Kennedy Catholic High School lost a beloved coach, colleague, and friend to cancer.

Derek “Coach” Sparks lit up the hallways with his laugh, always made time for students, and used his extra time to run the charity he set up in honor of his daughter, Cleats vs. Cancer. Derek believed in hard work and creating safe spaces for meaningful conversations. In only one year, Derek had made considerable inroads into diversity, equity, and belonging and was looking forward to his new titles of Dean of Students and Director of Equity and Belonging. We miss you, Coach, and carry your light forward.

A LETTER FROM HIS WIDOW, JESSICA SPARKS:

In loving memory of Derek Sparks I come to you with a love story of faith, love, tenacity and friendship.

I met Derek 27 years ago in Pullman, WA. I grew up in Mt. Vernon, Washington, and Derek from Wharton, TX - it’s a blessing we had the chance to meet from opposite sides of the country. We love to talk about how if it wasn’t for that one football scholarship, 36 | Kennedy Catholic High School

we wouldn’t have had the chance to fall in love and build a family, and for that I am forever grateful. Derek was intriguing. He was built from a strong foundation of hard work, true grit and being a good person. He was so well-behaved and disciplined; he clutched onto the football like his life depended on it. When I met him, he would have said football saved his life.

I come to you to share the amazing man he was, and that I am so grateful for the friendship we formed that translated into a marriage and our beautiful child, Jada. We were both raised to work hard, be good human beings and fight for things we love. We did that so many times…life can be tough.

Derek was so happy to be a Lancer; he finally found a place he could call home. He felt supported, he felt needed, he felt his skills and life experience were being put to work. Mr. Mohs changed his life.

I feel like he saw something in him that Derek had been waiting for someone to notice. He was so honored, excited, and appreciative to have this new opportunity as Dean of Students at Kennedy Catholic High School. I am sad he never got to really start the role.

I think we can all agree he did a great job with his DASH. He impacted a lot of people, he touched a lot of lives, and he gave a lot of his time to helping others, at times sacrificing his family life - but I know he loved what he did. He had so many aspirations and goals.

I am so proud to have been his partner all these years and to have ridden the roller coaster we were sometimes on because life is all about relationships and choices.

To feel your cup is full, you have to be ALL IN, so when you look back you can say, “Man, I gave that everything I had.”

I do feel Derek is in a better place.

Watching him sick as his body failed him was very difficult. His last few months were so hard; for me to know he is free of pain and all the feelings he must have felt brings me peace. I know everyone that knew Derek is filled with joy and memories of the time we got to spend with him. He was an amazing man who wanted to leave this place better. He achieved that.

Until we meet again…

Your true love, Jessica Erin Sparks

HONORING THE PAST

& INVESTING IN THE FUTURE 2022 RETURNING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

E

very February, current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply for a Returning Student Scholarship. This year we had our largest number of awards available, with 21 winners of 12 different awards. Students are evaluated based on their essay writing skills, their academic excellence, and their involvement outside of the classroom.

Many of the awards were established by families or classmates of a former Lancer who has passed away. Applicants for those scholarships are asked to describe how they embody the virtues of the deceased loved one.

It is the way that we can uphold the legacy of past Lancers. It also allows the school and the scholarship trustees to invest in the futures of our amazing students.

On May 4, we recognized the 21 students who were selected in our annual Scholarship Ceremony and Reception. Donors and committee members of each scholarship fund joined us as we celebrated each individual student. This year’s winners are all well-rounded students who excel not only in the classroom, but also in sports, clubs, arts, Campus Ministry, and leadership opportunities.

by KATELYN JOHNSON

RECIPIENT

STATS

Number of applicants: 107 Students awarded this year: 21 Total scholarship money awarded: $34,500 Incoming Sophomores recipients: 3 Incoming Junior recipients: 9 Incoming Senior recipients: 9 Legacy students: 5 First-time winners: 15 Sports played: Wrestling, Football, Baseball, Swim and Dive, Tennis, Cross Country, Water Polo, Bowling, Lacrosse, Track, Basketball Clubs: Peace & Justice Club, FASU, ASIF, Environmental Club, Dance Yourself Club, Lancers Against Cancer, Lancers for Love, Lady Lancers, Debate Club, Latinx Student Union, Ping Pong Club Fine Arts: Orchestra, Marching Band, Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble Leadership Roles: Freshman Retreat Leaders, Link Crew Leaders, Student Ambassadors, ASB Executives Post-High School Goals: Nursing, education, religious life, biomedical sciences, biology, pharmaceuticals, law, medicine, study in China or

Taiwan, STEM careers, pre-med, surgery, oncology, learn Spanish, music, work for Doctors Without Borders, become a professional athlete, attend UW, become a speech therapist

CONGRATULATIONS

Sa’Vaad A., Che A., Lourdes Therese A., Kaitlyn B., Brandon B., Liam B., Chase B., Camila D., Ava D., Isaak FA., Reece H., Ashley K., Jack M., Tien-Kim N., Riley P., Daphne S., Ishmael T., Arwa T., Helen T., and Jonathan V.!

Because of our generous scholarship trustees and benefactors, these students can continue to receive an excellent education at Kennedy Catholic. We are eternally grateful to everyone who has supported our Lancers.

To learn more and donate to any of our scholarship funds, please visit our Donation Page.

DONATE NOW! Lancer for Life | 37

SUPPORTING KENNEDY CATHOLIC

KATCH Auction A Roaring Good Time!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO GAVE THIS YEAR IN SO MANY WAYS! Lancer Golf Classic

THREE REASONS TO GIVE NOW:

1

Help offset the $5780 difference between the cost of tuition and actual cost to educate a student

2

Ensure students have access to a 21st century classroom

3

Support our students with unlimited possibilities for the future

DONATE NOW! KATCH Auction

38 | Kennedy Catholic High School

CLASS

REUNIONS

CLASS OF 1992 OCT. 7, 2022 | 30TH REUNION!

Check for more details on Facebook: Kennedy Class of ‘92 Reunion Group

CLASS OF 1970

CLASS OF 2002 AUGUST 20, 2022 | 50TH BELATED REUNION!

Glen Acres Golf + Country Club 5pm Social | 6:30pm Dinner Contact Joe Kieselnield

CLASS OF 1972

SEPT. 10, 2022 | 50TH REUNION!

5-10pm | Hyatt Regency Southport in Renton Contact Jeff Crompe 206.669.5333 or Phil Segadelli 206.769.8633

AUGUST 20, 2022 | 20TH REUNION!

5-10 pm | Beveridge Place Pub 6413 California Ave SW Seattle, WA 98136 Food Truck with 4-5 different entree options & dessert table! Wine/ Beer/Cider Garden (nonalcoholic drinks and coffee also available) $50 Register HERE! Contact Crystal Williams (Miller), Jillian Willenbacher, Blake Philips, or Joe Nguyen by reaching out via the link above. You can also send your Now & Then photos to us before the event!

Not sure if you can attend? Please fill out our attendance survey online.

CLASS OF 1982 SEPT. 9-10, 2022 | 40TH REUNION!

Sept. 9 | 5pm-Sunset | Bonfire at Alki Beach (near the intersection of Marine Ave & Alki Ave) Sept. 10 | 5-11pm | Gathering at Smarty Pants Garage in Burien (food and drinks available to purchase) Contact Rich Moffat 206.484.7424 or Darryl Badger Corfman 253.951.8759 Lancer for Life | 39

YOU'RE INVITED! Join your fellow alumni and support Kennedy Catholic by playing in our 4th Annual Lancer Golf Classic!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 Shotgun start at 7:30am Washington National Golf Course Whether you are a new or long-time alumnus, or part of the Lancer Communi-TEE, enjoy one of Washington’s premier courses while supporting scholarships for current students at Kennedy Catholic.

REGISTER NOW!

2021

ANNUAL REPORT The Kennedy Catholic 2021 Annual Report represents financial contributions made from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Included are gifts and sponsorships made through the Annual Fund, KATCH Auction, endowment, grants, and matching gifts. We've made every effort to publish the names of our donors accurately. If your name has been omitted, misspelled, or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincere apology and contact the Advancement Office at 206.957.9718 so we may update our records.

VIEW ANNUAL REPORT Thank you for supporting Kennedy Catholic!

40 | Kennedy Catholic High School

MS. O'S TOP NINE My name is Katie Oltmanns. I am the Digital Marketing Manager at Kennedy Catholic, and I run all social media channels. I attended nearly every event this year, and documented it for you to enjoy. It allowed me to build connections with so many of our amazing students, which is my favorite part of the job.

These are my top Instagram picks for the year, the posts I feel best encapsulate the 2021-22 school year.

Follow us on Instagram @kennedycatholiclancers, Facebook @KennedyCathWA, and Twitter @JFKCatholic

Lancer for Life | 41

$10,050,641 IN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AWARDED TO THE CLASS OF 2022

42 | Kennedy Catholic High School

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

WELCOMING THE CLASS OF 2022

Arizona Christian University

Loyola University in New Orleans

University of California, Berkeley

Arizona State University

Michigan State University

University of California, Irvine

Baylor University

Montana State University

University of Colorado Boulder

Bellevue College

Montana Technological University

University of Dallas

Boise State University

Nova Southeastern University

University of Delaware

California Baptist University

Oregon State University

University of Dubuque

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Pacific Lutheran University

University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Parsons School of Design at the New School

University of Idaho

California State University San Marcos

Pasadena City College

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Rocky Mountain College

University of Minnesota

San Diego State University

University of Mississippi

Community Christian College

Savannah College of Arts and Design

University Of Oregon

Eastern Arizona College

Seattle Pacific University

Eastern Washington University

Seattle University

Fashion Institute of Technology

Snow College

George Fox University

South Seattle College

George Mason University

Saint Martin's University

Gonzaga University

Stanford University

Grand Canyon University

Texas State University

Green River College

Texas Tech University

Highline College

Univerity of Washington

Liberty University

University Of Arizona

Loyola Marymount University

University of Auckland

Central Washington University Chapman University Columbia College Chicago

University of Portland University of Puget Sound University of San Francisco University of St. Andrews University of Washington University of Washington Bothell University of Washington Tacoma University of Wyoming Washington State University Western Washington University

Lancer for Life | 43

2022-23 EVENTS OCT 4 Homecoming Mass OCT 8 Homecoming Football Game OCT 19 Open House OCT 27 Little Lancer Trick-or-Treat NOV 10-13 Fall Play DEC 3 Arts & Crafts Fair DEC 11 Winter Open House DEC 13 Christmas Concert JAN 28 Booster Club Crab Feed FEB 6 Festival of Choirs MAR 16-19 Spring Musical MAR 25 KATCH Auction APRIL 5 Little Lancer Easter Egg Hunt MAY 10 Elementary Band Festival MAY 22 Spring Instrumental Concert MAY 24 Spring Choral Concert JUNE 2 Baccalaureate Mass & Graduation